The Award Winning Book

Violence in the Lives of Black Women: Battered, Black, and Blue

Break the silence surrounding Black women's experiences of violence!

Dr. Carolyn West's Book

Written from a Black feminist perspective by therapists, researchers, activists, and survivors, Violence in the Lives of Black Women sheds new light on an understudied field. For too long, Black women have been suffering the effects of violence in painful silence. This book provides a forum where personal testimony and academic research meet to show you how living at the intersection of many kinds of oppression shapes the lives of Black women. With moving case studies, in-depth discussions of activism and resistance, and helpful suggestions for treatment and intervention, this book will help you understand the impact of violence on the lives of Black women.

Carolyn Payton Early Career Award

Violence in the Lives of Black Women: Battered, Black, and Blue has been named the winner of the 2004 Carolyn Payton Early Career Award. This honor, sponsored by Section One (Psychology of Black Women) of the American Psychological Association’s Society for the Psychology of Women (Division 35), is awarded to recognize the achievements of a Black woman in the early stages of her career. Violence in the Lives of Black Women won the award for creativity and for making a major contribution to the understanding of the role of gender in the lives of Black women.

Book Reviews

“This book should be read by all healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, clinic staff, researchers in the family social sciences, program administrators, and probably the police and court personnel as well as community workers and helpers in all settings. The book is important for anyone, including interested laypersons, who want to understand an unacknowledged problem or who want to increase their cultural sensitivity. This is an important book that belongs in our libraries.”Marcie Parker, Journal of Comparative Family Studies (2004)

“This book is noteworthy because it moves beyond the terrible toll of violence to catalogue Black women’s strengths and resilience. Liberally illustrated with quotes from literature and song, the book is a must read for anyone concerned with increasing their cultural competency.”Mary P. Koss, Ph.D.Professor, Public Health, Family and Community Medicine, Psychiatry and PsychologyUniversity of Arizona

“The book has a very strong emphasis on intervention strategies that will be useful to therapeutic practitioners as well as survivors of intimate violence—A fresh approach.”Traci C. West, Ph.D.Author of Wounds of the Spirit: Black Women, Violence, and Resistance Ethics

"Your book, Violence in the lives of Black women: Battered, black, and blue, gave me hope and encouragement when I felt like the physical aftermath of the attack and PTSD would overwhelm me. Dr. West, your voice and vision eloquently blended a work of voices for educating and healing on an issue that effects massive numbers of people everyday. It has helped to inspire me to use my traumatic experience as more energy to work in this movement in combating and educating about violence against women. I am sure your important works will continue to bless thousands, if not millions of women, men, and children for many years to come. With tears I say Thank You."Ms. Kit Evan, Survivor